Folding machine



Jam, 14, 1930.

A. R. RIDDERSTROM FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEIQ'FUY:

Jan. 14, 1930. A. R. RIDDERSTROM 1,743,285

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l l... I

i a W4 l i? A. R. RIDDERSTROM 1,743,286

FOLDING MACHINE Jan. 14, 1930.

Filed Dec. 24. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN+U 1 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 ANDREW R. RIDDERSTROM, OE LYNIZ,

S-SACHUSETTS, ASSIGNGR TO ROTARY MACHINE COMPANY, 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS' FOLDING- MACHINE Application filed. Decemcer 24, 192-5. Serial No. 77,593.

This invention relates to folding machines for folding and pressing down the edges of various kinds of material, and relates par ticularly to that type of machine shown and described in my eo-pending application Serial No. 734,243, filed August 26, 1924. The present invention is especially adapted for folding the edges of upper stock of footwear as for instance in folding the edge of a binding strip previously stitched to the edge of the leather or other material for the shoe upper.

An object of the present invention is to provide. an improved machine of the foregoing general type in which improved guiding and folding mechanism is provided whereby more rapid, efficient and accurate results are obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for both feeding, folding and pressing the edge of the binding strip or the material in an improved manner and with a continuous feeding movement, and wherein a combined worksupporting, work feeding and guiding means of improved construction is provided for conducting or delivering the work to the feeding-,folding and pressing mechanism. The. present invention also-contemplates the provision of an improved means, in the present instance in the form of a tension presser roll, for assisting in maintaining the work in accurate position with relation to the work supporting and guiding means.

A further object is to provide an improved edge turning or folding member for partially turning up or folding the edge of the binding strip stitched to the material before it is fed to the fold pressing mechanism, and which member is adapted to be adjusted relatively to the work support to facilitate the formation of different sizes of folds for work of different thicknesses or for difierent positions of the stitch line. 7

In accordance with the present invention the work supporting and guiding means is in the form of a roll or disk rotatable upon an inclined axis and is provided with an annular or peripheral rib. The upright edge turning or folding member operates in conjunction with said feed roll and the annular guide rib thereon so as to spread the binding strip from the leather or other stock material. The work is positively guided to the fold pressing mechanism by means of this annular rib which acts to guide the work at the stitch line, and by means of a tension presser roll which cooperates with the peripheral rib on the lower feed roll, the stock is held firmly in proper position and the binding is held taut when presented. to the action of the fold pressing mechanism. The latter are in the form of overlapping and staggered disks which act to roll and press the binding edge down smoothly and evenly and in a taut condition throughout, and since'the guiding, feeding and folding is continuous at one point, the binding strip will be folded with-' (gut the formation of wrinkles especially when red in curved paths.

ther objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in section, of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan View lllustrating particularly the adj usting mechanism for the lower feed roll.

Fig. 4: is a front end elevation of the machine. V

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the work supporting and guiding mechanism, the folding' mechanism, and the edge turning device.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view showing the guidin and folding mechanism.

Figs. 7 and 7 are fragmentary detail views illustrating the cooperating parts for guiding and spreading the binding strip, and also illustrating adjusted positions. of the edge turning wall for different classes of work.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view, p rtly in sec- 5' f of rotation of the head and in a substantially t-ion, illustrating the guiding, presser roll and edge turning members.

Fig. 9 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the driving means for the upper feeding and folding mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on a curve corresponding to the circumference of the upper feed roll.

Before explaining in detail the present improvement and mode of operation thereof, I desire to have it understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and that the phraseology which I employ is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

The machine herein shown as embodying a present preferred form of my invention and adapted for certain classes of work, comprises in general an upper rotatable roll or head having mounted thereon independently driven feeding and folding disks which rotate in a direction opposite to the direction vertical plane transversely or obliquely to the line of feed of the work. Beneath this upper feeding and folding mechanism is located a lower roll or work supporting disk which. is provided with an annular or peripheral rib. The lower roll is mounted on an oblique or inclined axis so as to positively urge the work into folding position. At one side of the lower feed roll or disk is mounted an upright or vertically extending edge turning member which is adjustable in accordance with the spacing of the stitch line from the edge of the leather or stock. Cooperating with the eri aheral rib on the worksun- P l V i porting and feeding roll is a tension presser roll, which acts to hold the work in proper position on the lower roll sothatthe annularrib will positively. feed the material at the'stitch line of the binding strip. The

feeding and folding disks carried by the be continuous and always at a single point, thereby providing a very accurate operation and facilitating the rapid folding of the binding strip around sharp curves.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the machine comprises a suitable base 20, to which is hinged at 21 an upper sup- 1' porting frame 22 which is chambered to pro vide a housing or casing for certain of the operating parts. Extending forwardly from the frame 22 is an overhanging arm 23 which is provided with an annular or oblique bore through which extends a rotary shaft 24 (see especially Figs. 1 and 2). Secured to the rear end of the shaft 24: is a spiral gear 25 meshing with a spiral worm 26 carried at the forward end of a driving shaft 27. This shaft is suitably journalled in the opposite side walls of the frame 22. Freely mounted on the opposite end of the drive shaft 27 is a driving clutch wheel 28. A clutch wheel 29 is secured to the shaft 27, and between the wheels 28 and 29 are suitable friction clutch faces whereby the shaft 27 may be driven from the belt wheel 28.

Rotatably mounted in the frame 22 and below the drive shaft 27 is a rock shaft 30 to which is pinned a laterally extendingtreadle operated arm 31, and the outer end of this arm is connected to a suitable floor treadle by means of a rod or other connection 32. To the rear end of the shaft 30 is pinned a sleeve 33, and extending therefrom is a brake arm 34 and a clutch operating arm 35. A suitable brake 34 adapted to cooperate with the wheel 29 is carried at the end of the arm 3%, and at the outer end of the operating arm 35 is a cam 35 which is adapted to cooperate with the driving wheel 28. A tension spring 36 is connected at one end to the treadle arm 31 and 21 its opposite end is connected to the top of the housing, this spring acting to resist the rocking of shaft 3-0 throughthe medium of the treadle connection. The rock shaft 30'has a limited endwise movement against the action of a compression spring 37, which enables the shaft to yield upon swinging the arm 35 to clutch together the clutch members 28 and 29.

Upper feeding, and folding mechanism Secured to the shaft 24 is a rotatable headv extending obliquely across the line'of feed as shown by line P-P in Fig. 8. J ournalled in the rotary head 38 are a series, of short shafts 39, each carrying at its outer end a roller disk 40 provided at vone point in the periphery thereof with a curved'notch' or groove 40*. These rolls or disks, in the operation of the machine, turn in a directionopposite to that of the head 38. The axes of shafts 39 are set at an angle with reference to the axis of the shaft 24, of preferably about seven degrees as shown by the angle of lines w and y in Fig. 10. As it will be seen from Figs. 9 and 10, the disks are thus disposed in stepped relation, and are mounted-relatively close to one another, preferably so, as to overlap to apredetermined extent. As a result of this construction the disks during the rotation of the head 38 successively engage the work, and a pair of disksare constantly in engagement with the work, so that a continuous feed of the work is provided. This constant engagement of successive disks with the material is adapted to result in a feeding operation analogous to that of a screw, or a spiral gear wheel engaging and: to move it endwise. The feed movement thus imparted by each disk corresponds to the step spacing between the successive disks as represented by the distance between lines 3 and 3/ in Fig. 10. v

The roller disks 40 extend in parallel relation on axes angular with relation to the shaft 24, and the several disks are preferably positively driven or rotated by means of pin ions 41 fixed at the inner ends of the shafts 39. The series of pinionsmesh with an internal gear ring 42 carried by a sleeve 43 which is fixed in a bearing head and bushing 44 secured to the overhanging arm 23. The shafts 39 are alternately longer and shorter so as to permit a nesting of the pinions 41 in step formation as shown in Fig. 10.

Lower work supporting and guiding mechanism Secured on the outer end of a sleeve 46 which projects through the front side wall 20 of the housing is a crank bracket or arm 45, (see Figs. 2 and The sleeve 46 is loosely fitted in an outer sleeve 47 the latter in turn being fitted in a boss 48 extending from the wall 20 of the housing. A torsion bar 49 extends through the inner sleeve 46 and is fitted in a square bore therein, one end of the torsion bar being clamped by means of set screws 50 to the inner end of the outer sleeve 47. A pinion 51 is secured to the outer end of the sleeve 46 against the outer face of the crank bracket 45. As shown in Fig. 2, this bracket has a forward extension 45, terminating in a laterally extended bearing 45. A treadle arm 52 extends laterally from the sleeve 47 and this arm is provided with a sleeve 53 which is secured by means of set screws to the sleeve 47. The outer free end of the treadle arm 52 is suitably connected to a floor treadle by means of a rod or other connection 54, and the action of the treadle connection 54 in swinging the arm 52 downward is resisted by means of a tension spring 55 secured to the arm 52 and to the top of the housing.

A transverse shaft 56 (see Fig. 2) is mounted in a bearing portion 45 in the bracket 45 and carries at its outer end a knurled disk or knob 57. At the inner end of the shaft 56 is secured a worm 58 which meshes with the pinion 51 carried by the rock shaft or sleeve 46. From this construction it will be seen that upon turning the shafe 56, since the pinion 51 will be held against rotation by the action of the torsion bar '49, the extended bearing 45* will-be swung toward and from the upper roll or head 38. The upward movement of the extended bearing 45 due to the recoil of the torsion bar 49 is limited by means of an upwardly extending arm 59 (Figs. 1 and 2) carrying at its upper end an adjustable stop screw 60 which engages the face 43f the overhanging arm 23- I Tonnnaled in the opposite side walls 20 and20 of the frame or housing 22 is a transverse rotary shaft 61 carrying at one end a spiral worm 62 meshing with a worm 63 carried by the driving shaft 27 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The shaft 61 at its opposite end carries a worm 64 meshing with a worm 65 carried by a rotary shaft 66 journaled in the opposite side walls 20 and 20 of the frame. The shaft 66 has an extension 66 beyond the side wall of the housing, and flexibly connected thereto is a shaft portion 66 which is also flexibly connected to a shaft portion 66 the latter being journaled in the extended bearing 45 and extending into a casing 67 secured to the extended bearings 45 (see Fig. 5). Located within the chamber of the easing 67 and mounted on the end of the shaft portion 66 is a bevel gear 68. Extending through the rear vertical wall 67 of the casing 67 is an inclined stud shaft 69 which is secured in position by means of a set screw 7 O. A rotary sleeve 71 is mounted on the inclined shaft 69, this sleeve terminating in a flange portion 72 to the outer face of which is secured by means of countersunk screws 7 3 a flanged disk 74. It'will be seen that the front face 74 of the disk 74 is located in an inclined planeand the flanged working face 74 extends'angularly with respect to theinclined face 7 4". The flanged portion 74 of the disk or roll 7 4 isformed on the inner face thereof with gear teeth 7 5 meshing with the bevel gear 68 (see Fig. 5). The work supporting roll or disk 7 4 is alsoformed with a peripheral or annular rib or guide 76 projecting outwardly from the face of the flanged face 74" of the disk. As shown par- 'ticularly in Fig. 5,the face 74 of the roll at one side of the rib 76 is raised slightly higher than the face 74 at the opposite side of the rib 76, so that a lesser depression will be gaging wall having a tapered face 7 9 termij nating adjacent to and in rear of theperipheral rib 76 (see Figs. 5 7 and 8). The edge turning wall 79 is carried by a rearwardly extending shank 80 housed in the angular slot 78, and the shank is provided with a depending portion 81 having a hole 82 for the reception of a pivot pin 83 by means of which the edge turning member is swingingly supported within the slot 78 of the supporting block '77. The edge turning member 79 is adjusted V the block 77. The rear end of the shank 80 is swung upwardly by the adjusting screw 84 against the action of a spring 120 secured. to the block 77 by means of a binding screw 121.

Presser roll mechanism Extending through the front wall 20 of the housing or casing is a shaft 89 (see Fig. 1). This shaft has a bearing in a boss 122 in the wall 20 and also has a bearing in a boss 90 carried by the overhanging arm 23. At the free end of the shaft 89 is secured an arm 91 (see also Fig. 4), this arm having a sleeve adjustably mounted on the shaft and held in position by means of a set screw 92.

As shown in Fig. 4the arm 91' is bent into substantially U-shape to provide a spring bow having resilient expansible or contractible portions or arms 93 and'94. These are adjusted toward and from each other by means of an adjusting screw 95, and locked in adjusted position by means of a screw 96. The outer end of the arm 91 is provided with an inclined guide 97 within which is slidingly mounted a presser bar 98 (see Figs. 1 and 4). This presser bar is enlarged at its upper end to provide a guide portion 101 (see Fig. 1) adapted to slide within a slot 102 in the inclined guide 97. A spring 99 is interposed between the end of the presser bar and the upper wall of the slot 102 thereby urging the presser bar downwardly, this action being limited by means of an adjustable stop 103. The lower end of the presser bar is bifurcated to receive a rotatable knurled presser roll or disk 104 which ispivoted within the slotted end of the presser bar. I

The shaft 89 which at its forward end carries the presser roll mechanism above de-' scribed is in the form of a rock shaft which also has a longitudinal slidingmovement.

from the edge turning member or wall 79 and the guide rib 76, or to the left in Fig. 1. This forward longitudinal movement of the shaft 89 is resisted by means of a compression spring 108 located between a collar.109 ad justably secured to the shaft 89 and the face of the bearing portion 90, see Fig. 1. V A sleeve 111 is secured to the shaft 89 between the cam end 105 and the boss 122 (Figs. 1 and 2), and extending from this sleeve is a vertical arm 111 engaged by a transverse adjusting screw 110 having on the outer end thereof a knurled disk or knob 112 (see Fig; 2). Also extending from the sleeve 1.11 is'a horizontal arm 113 extending at right angles to the arm 111 and connected to the outer end of the arm 113 is a spring 114 which is connected at its lower end to a stud 115 secured to the front wall 20 of the housing. From this construction'it will be seen that upon turning the adjusting screw 110 to shift it endwise against the vertical arm 111" the shaft 89 may be partially rotated or rocked against the action of the spring 114 acting on the horizontal arm 113, thereby resulting 91 upwardly and moving the presser'roll 104 vertically faway from the work supporting roll or disk 74. Upon turning the adjusting screw in the opposite direction the spring 114 will act to shift the presser roll 104 downwardly toward the work roll 74. The shaft 89 may be independently adjusted longitudinally by means of an adjusting screw 116 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is threaded through a tapped hole in the arm 91, this screw having a knurled disk or knob 117 at one end, and having the opposite tapered end 118 in engagement with a slabbed face 119 of the sup porting arm 23 of the frame work. The adjusting screw 116 permits a very fine adjustment of the presser roll 104 toward and from the peripheral guide rib 76 and in a horizontal direction.

The operation Since the present machine is especially, although not exclusively, adapted for folding the edge of a binding strip stitched to the edge of a material, such as leather, the work, in the present instance, will be initially positioned in the machine substantially in the manner illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. V This is accomplished by first forcing down the rod 54 by means of the floor treadle which results in swinging the work guiding and support- 7 ing roll 74 downwardly against theac-tion of the spring torsion bar 49 and also in shifting the rock shaft 89 longitudinally so as to shift the presser roll support 97 and hence the roll 104 outwardly, or to theleft in Fig. 1.. After the work is inserted the treadle rod 54 is released resulting in the movement of the work supporting rolls 74 and presser roll 104 into normal position, as shown in Fig. 1. The

so in swinging the presser roll supportlng arm I machine is then started by forcing down the treadle rod 62, and through the medium of rock shaft and clutch operating arm 35, the clutch wheels or disks 28- and 29 will be clutched together, thereby rotating the shaft 27 and causing shaft 66 to be driven therefrom at the proper relative speed through the worm shaft and gearing 61 to 65. The latter mechanism is constructed so that the work guide roll 74 driven from shaft 66 will have the proper peripheral movement corresponding to the feeding movement of the work feeding disks l0.

. The shaft 24 will be driven from the shaft 27 through the medium of worm gearing 25 and 26, and hence the upper roll or head 38 will rotate in a clockwise direct-ion as shown by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 6. The peripheral movement of thedisks 40 will be the same as the peripheralmovement of the roll or head 38 which carries these disks. It will be understood that the lower work guiding and supporting roll or disk 74 will be driven from the shaft 66 with its flexible connection by means of the bevel gearing 68 and 75.

With the mechanism operating as above described, the work will be carried on the face of the roll 74 at an angle inclined to the vertical, and the relatively sharp apex of the guiding rib 76 will project into the stitch line, thereby spreading the binding strip from the material at the stitch line as the material is fed over the roll 7 4. The successive disks 40 will be carried by the rotary head 38 across the travelling guide rib 76 substantially on the line P, P shown in Fig. 8. The tapered face 7 9 of the edge turning wall 79 will engage and partially turn the edge of the strip S asshown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, and thereupon the disks 40 will catch the partially turned edge of the strip and fold the same over the guide rib 76 upon the material M, as shown in Fig. 6. l

The feeding and folding disks 40 are thus mounted for orbital movement on the rotary head or roll 38, and travel at a constant angle across the edge of the work, each folder l0 being mounted on a fixed axis and positively driven in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the head 38. The work is held and guided in position by means of the projecting guide rib 76, which extends into the stitch line at the underside of the work, and the yielding presser roll 104 acts opposite the wall 79 to assist in maintaining the work in proper position with relation to the guide 76. The roll 10 i is rotated by the movement of the material which travels with the rotary work supporting roll 7 a, and hence engages the material without any substantial friction. As the roller disks 40 travel over the guide rib 7 6- the marginal edge of the fold of the binding strip, which is thicker and analogous to a rolled or corded edge lies atthe inner side of the rib and is engaged and pressed thereagainst by one corner of a notch 40 of the roller disk. This curved notch of each disk registers with the guide rib in its rotation, and hence the'strip is drawn taut from the edge of the leather and firmly pressed down over the rib as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

As shown especially in Figs. 5, 6 and'7, the upper edge of the guide 76 projects into the stitch line. The face of the guide which engages the strip 8 at one side of the stitch line has a more abrupt inclination than the opposite inclined face of the guide against which the material M is pressed by the rolllOl. This construction facilitates the action of. the guide rib 76 in separating the stifier leather material M and the more flexible binding strip S at the stitch line, and also in maintaining the guide at the stitch line. The inclined travel of the guide 76 due to the rotation ofroll 74 on an inclined axis enables the rib 76 to readily catch the work at the stitch line, and hence the work is positively carried and guided into proper position with relation to the edge turning member 79 and the feeding and folding disks 40.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 7 the relatively sharp apex of the guide rib 76 enters the groove between the binding strip and material at the underside thereof and since the guide travels with the work the latter is carried on the rib at the stitch line beneath the fold pressers or disks 40. When the work carried on the lower roll 7 4 reaches the edge turner 79, the strip travels over the support-- ing surface of the lip 7 9 to permit the edge of the strip to be turned or curled up by the upright surface of thewall 79. It will be noted that thepresser roll 104 operates opposite the wall 79 to hold the stitch line of the work on the apex of the rib as the binding strip is drawn away from the stitch line over the lip 7 9*. At this point the free edges E (Figs. 7 and 7 of the material M and strip] S which later form a ridge orthick-.

'ened rolled edge S when the strip is folded and pressed thereover (see F ig. 6) project freely above the work supporting surface of the roll 74 and lip 7 9 When the work leaves the wall 79 the partially turned edge of the strip S is engaged by one corner 40 (see Fig. 6) of a roll 40 as it is bodily carried obliquely across the line of feed F-F in the direction of line P-P in Fig. 8, and the positive rotation of the roll 40 causes the strip to be folded over the free edges E thus forming the ridge S at the folded edge. This ridge is received in the groove 40? as the fold presser 40 rolls over the rib 76.

Adjustments of the machine adjusting screw 110 to rock the shaft 89. Presser roll 104 may be shifted in a' longitudinal direction away from the edge turning member 79 by operating treadle rod 54 to shift rock shaft 89 longitudinally. Presser roll 104 may be adjusted toward and from the edge turning member 79 by operating ad- 'just-ing screw 116, and the presser roll may be adjusted circumferentially of the roll 74 by operating adjusting screw 95 to relatively expand or contract the spring connected arms 93 and 94 (see Fig. 4).

The work supporting and guiding roll 7 4 may be swung downwardly relatively to the presser roll 104 by operating treadle rod 54 to rock the shaft or sleeve 46 against the action of the torsion bar 49. It will be noted that the downward operation of treadle rod 54 simultaneously swings the guide roll 74 downwardly and the presser roll 104 outwardly, or to the leftin Fig. 1. The position of the lower roll 74 may be varied with respect to the feeding and folding disks 40 to accommodate various thicknesses of work, by operating the adjusting screw 56 (see Fig. 2) which results in swinging the bearing 45 against the action of the torsion bar 49, and the lower roll may be held in .proper adjusted position by means of the adjustable stop 60. The lower roll 7 4 may be manually depressed against the springaction of the torsion bar 49 independently and without movement of the presser roll 104.

As shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 7 a the edge turning wall 7 9 may be adjusted toward and from the free stitched edges E of the material and strip by operating the adjusting screw 84 against the action of springs 120 and 87 Although the member 79 swings on the pivot 83, its adjustable movement together with lip 79 will be substantially in a horizontal direction, due to the position of pivot 83 and to the fact that the normal adjustment is small. WVhere relatively thin material or leather,

such as for certain kinds of womens fo-otwear, 1s to be bound the end of lip 79 will abut against and preferably conform substantially to the shape of the guide rib 76, as shown in Fig. 7. To accommodate a thicker leather (see Fig. 7 where the stitching is further from the free edges E, the wall 7 9 may be adjusted horizontally away from the edges E to correspond to the greater distance of the stitching from the edges E. A larger or wider fold of the strip, measured from the stitching to the folded edge, will therefore be formed in this instance.

It is to be understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure, or arrangement, it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims or the requirements of the prior art.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In a folding machine, a work suppor ing roller having an annular guide rib, :1

work retaining roller for holding the work against said rib, and a series of overlapping rotary disks for folding an edge of the work.

2. In a folding machine, a work supporting roller having an annular guide rib, a work retaining roller for holding the work against said rib, and a series of rotary disks for folding the work, each having a curved notch adapted to straddle said rib.

3. In a folding machine, a work supporting roller having an annular rib provided with an outer inclined face, a work retaining roller for pressing the work against said inclined face of the rib, and means for folding an edge of the work. 7 V 4. In a folding machine, a work supporting roller having an annular rib provided with an outer inclined face, a. yielding work head, and a series of rotatable fold pressers 7 carried thereby, each having a curved notch adapted to straddle said rib.

6. In a folding machine,'the combination of a pair of cooperating rotatable rolls having the axes thereof angularly related, and a series of overlapping rotatable rolls for fold ing an edge of thework, said last rolls having ICEhGCiLXGS thereof at an angle to the direction of 7 In a folding machine, the combination of a rotatable work support having a peripheral rib and a Work supporting surface at each side of the rib, an edge turning member engageable with the work entirely at one side of said rib, a presser member engageable with the work at the opposite side of said rib, and means for folding the edge of the work;

8. In a machine for folding a binding strip stitched to a material, the combination of a work supporting roll having a single annular rib, a plow having an upright wall for turning up the edge of the strip during the feed of the Work, said plow also having means for maintaining the strip separated from the material above the work support, and means beyond said plow in the direction of feed for pressing the strip.

9. In a folding machine, in combination, a work supporting roller, a work retaining roller cooperating therewith and a series of rotary disks operating in succession for folding an edge of the work.

10. In a folding machine, the combination of a rotatable work supporting roll having a peripheral rib, an edge turning member engageable with the work atone side of said rib, a presser roll engageable with the work at the opposite side of said rib, and a plurality of rotatable disks continuously engaging the work for folding the edge thereof.

11. In a machine for folding the edge of a binding strip stitched to a material, the combination of a rotatable work supporting roll having a peripheral rib projecting into the stitch line, a yielding presser roll for pressing the material against said rib, and means for folding the edge of the strip.

12. In a machine for folding the edge of a binding strip stitched to a material, the combination of a rotatable work supporting roll having a peripheral rib projecting into the stitch line, a yielding presser roll for pressing the material against said rib, means for folding the edge of the strip, and a common means for moving said rolls each relatively to the other.

18. In a machine for folding the edge of a binding strip stitched to a material, the combination of a rotatable work supporting roll having a peripheral rib projecting into the stitch line, a yielding presser roll for pressing the material against said rib, means for folding the edge of the strip, and means for moving said presser roll relatively to said work supporting roll.

14. In a machine for folding the edge of a binding strip stitched to a material, the combination of a work support, means for feeding the work relatively thereto, means for guiding the work at the stitch line, and a yielding presser roll engageable with the work.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotat-able'roll supported on an inclined axis, an annular guide carried thereby and lying in an inclined plane, and a series of rotatable disks having notches adapted to successively register with said guide for feeding and folding the work.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an inclined work support over which the work is adapted to be fed, and a series of disks rotatable in parallel planes for both feeding and folding the work.

17. In a folding machine, the combination of a work support, an edge turning wall adjacent to said work support, means adapted to project into the stitch line for guiding the material and strip at the stitch line, and means for adjusting said wall relatively to said guiding means.

18. In a folding machine, the combination of a work support, an, edge turning wall adjacent to said work support for engaging the edge of the work, and means for pivotally adjusting said wall relatively to said work support.

19. In a folding machine, the combination of a rotatable work supporting roll having a peripheral rib adapted to project into the space between the material and strip at the stitch line for guiding the same, and an upright edge turning member adjacent to said roll and pivotally mounted for adjustment relatively to said rib.

20. In a machine for folding a binding strip stitched to a material, the combination of a work support, an edge turning member having an upright surface engageable with the edge of the strip for partially folding the same, means for completing the fold, and means for angularly varying the relative position of said upright surface and the free stitched edge of the material.

'21. In a folding machine, the combination of a rotatable roll having a projecting annular rib, an edge turning member having an upright wall located at the top of said roll, said wall having a lip projecting over the face of said roll and terminating between said rib and wall, and means for folding the edge of the work over said rib.

22. In a folding machine, the combination of work supporting means, folding mechanism for folding the edge of the work, means for guiding the work relatively to said work sup-porting means, a work presser member, a pair of spring connected arms for supportg said member, and means for relatively adjusting said arms under tension.

28. In a machine for folding the edge of a strip stitched to a material, the combination of a travelling guide adapted to project into the stitch line, said guide having an inclined face at one side thereof to engage the strip at one side of the stitch lineand having an inclined face of lesser inclination at its opposite side to engage the material at the opposite side of the stitch line, and means for feeding and folding the strip at successive points onsaid guide.

24;. In a folding machine,the combination of a lower work supporting roll, an upper roll for pressing the work agai .st the lower roll while the work is being fed between the rolls, meansfor folding the edge of the work relative to said upper roll, and a guide for the work located between the upper roll and said folding means.

25. "In a folding machine, the combination of a lower work supporting roll, an upper roll for pressing the work against the lower roll while the work is being fed between the rolls, means for folding the edge of the work relative to said upper roll, at a point substantially opposite said upper roll, and a guide for the work located between the upper roll and said folding means.

26. In a folding machine, the combination of a lower work supporting roll, an upper roll for pressing the work against the lower roll while the work is being fed between the rolls, means for folding the edge of the work relative to said upper roll, and a guide for the work carried by said lower roll located between the upperroll and said folding means.

27. In a folding machine, the combination of a lower work supporting roll, an upper roll 7 while the work is being fed between the rolls,

a plow for folding the edge of the work relative to said upper roll, and a guide for the work located between the upper roll and said plow.

28. In a folding machine, the combination of a lower work supporting roll, means for feeding the work over said roll, means including an upper roll for pressing the work against said lower roll while the work is being fed, means separate from said upper roll and located substantially opposite the same for folding the edge of the work, and a guide for the work located between the upper roll and said folding means.

29; In a folding machine, the combination of a lower work supporting roll, means for feeding the work over said roll, means includ ing an upper roll for pressing the work against said lower roll while the work is being fed, means separate from said upper roll and located substantially opposite the same for folding the edge of the work, and a guide engaging the under side of said work located between the upper roll and said folding means.

30. In a folding machine, the combination of a work support, a roll for pressing the work against said support while the work is being fed thereover, means for folding the edge of the work relative to said roll, and a guide for the work located between the roll and said work support.

.31. In a folding machine, the combination of a lower work supporting roll having an annular guide rib located between the edges of said roll to provide a work supporting surface at opposite sides of said rib, a presser roll for pressing the work at one side of the rib, and a folding means disposed at the opposite side of said rib.

32. In a folding machine, the combination of a work support, means for folding an edge of the work, a presser roll having the periphery thereof engaging the work adjacent the fold for holding the work in position on said work support, and means for yieldingly pressing said roll against the work support at an angle inclined away from said folding means.

38. In a folding machine, the combination of an upright work supporting roll rotatable on an inclined axis, and means adjacent the top of the roll for folding the work, the periphery of said roll providing a work supporting face, the plane of which extends obliquely with respect to said folding means, whereby the work will be fed toward and away from the folding means in an inclined are.

34. In a folding machine, the combination of a work supporting roll, means for folding the ed we of the work as it is fed over said work supporting roll, a retainer including a roll for pressing the work againstsaid supporting roll, a shaft carrying said retainer, and means ANDREW R. RIDDERSTROM. 

